Speed-regulator system



Sept. 15, 1925.

S. A. STAEGE SPEED REGULATOR SYSTEM Filed Feb,

u e a R N a 0 w f T w m .m m 2 mm Sept. 15, 1925 s. A. STAEGE SPEEDREGULATOR SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledFem 1921 IIH 4 INVENTOR Stephen,4, Sfae e ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 1925. l l

UNITED STATES PATENT o FIcE.

s'rEPnEN A. s'rAEeE, or rrrrsnuaen, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIgNoE. 'roWESTINGHOUSE ELEc'raIc & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION orPENNSYLVANIA.

SPEED-REGULATOR SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN A. STAEGE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inSpeed-Regulator Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to speed-regulator systems and it has specialrelation to a sys tem adapted to maintain a constant-speed ratio betweena plurality ofv moving members.

. One object of my invention is to provide a speed-regulatorsysten1 ofthe above-indicated character which shall be simple and efiicient inoperation and free from hunting action, at the same time permittingvariations in the speeds of either the individual members or the groupof members, as an entirety.

In my copending applications, Serial Nos. 350,846 and 327,992, filedJan. 12, 1920, and Oct. 2, 1919, respectively, are describedspeed-regulator systems of the above-indicated character, wherein eachset of rotating members is propelled by a variable-speed motor.speed-changing device which, in turn, operates a frequency changer thatis electrically connected to one winding of an electric differential.The other winding of this electric differential is connected to areference frequency changer which is common to all of the rotatingmembers. Any difference in frequency between the reference .frequencychanger and the individual frequency changer driven by therotatingmember will cause a corresponding movement of the electricdifferential to set in motion a train of mechanism adapted to correctthe propelling-motor speed in accordance with the abnormal loadthereupon.

. In order to obviate the so-called hunting v action of the auxiliaryfrequenc changer, an anti-hunting device is provide upon the shaftthereof. Inasmuch as it sometimes becomes neccxa-ry to quickly correctthe prop'elling-motor speed to meet sudden abnormal loads, theanti-hunting device should be so adapted as not to interfere with thethen necessary quick correction.

It is in these latter particulars that the herein described improvementsreside, which,

Each rotating member operates a.

ucatitn filed February 14, 1921. "serial No. 444,906.

in the present embodiment, comprise an inertia-responsive acceleratingand anti-hunt- Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating the connectionbetween the coils 31 and 32 and the lever arm 33.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the present invention is illustratedas applied to a plurality of rotating rolls but, inasmuch as the devicesfor all rolls are alike, they will be described with reference to oneroll only, and the duplicated parts for the other rolls will be giventhe same reference numerals. A

A roll 11 is driven by a motor, 12, preferably a shunt-wound motorhaving a shunt field 13, througha chain of gears 14. Any suitablespeed-changing device, such as shown at 15, and illustrated as driventhrough gear mechanism 16 from the shaft of the roll 11, may be used tochange the s eed of the individual rolls, as. desired.

e portion of the speed'changer 15 drives a frequency changer 17, thesecondary winding of which is directly connected to the secondarywinding 18 of an electric differential. The primary winding 19 of theelectric dif ferential is in circuit with a frequency changer 21that isadapted to be driven by a small motor 22. Frequenc changer 21 is commonto all of the sets 0 rolls and supplies a substantially constantfrequenc to the primary winding 19 of each auxiliary frequency changer.

It is well known that, so long as the frequencies in the primary winding19 and the secondary winding 18 of the electric differential are thesame, there will be no rotation of the shaft 23 thereof. However, whenthe frequency in the secondary winding 18 varies from that in theprimary winding 19, the shaft .23 will be rotated in a directionaccording to the difference in the two frequencies. That is, if thefrequency in the secondary winding is higher than that in the primarywinding, the shaft will be rotated in one direction, and, if it is lowerthan that in the primary winding 19, the shaft will be rotated in theopposite direction. This rotation of the shaft 23 is utilized to operatecorrective mechanism that is adapted to correct the strength and speedof the propelling motor 12 to meet the abnormal load conditions upon therolls.

The shunt field winding 13 of the propelling motor has a motor-operatedrheostat 24 in circuit therewith, the arm 25 of which is adapted to bemoved in accordance with the rotation of a pilot motor 26, through gearmechanism 27 in the customary manner. Motor 26 hasdifferentially-related windings 28 and 29 which may be alternatelyenergized in the manner about to be described. Connected in parallelcircuit relation to the motor 26 are coils 31 and 32 of associatedelectromagnets which are adapted to normally effect the step-by-stepmovement of the rheostat arm 25 in the same manner as described in myabove-mentioned application, Serial No. 350,846, with reference tomagnets 110 and 116, shown in Fig. 5 there of, and the associatedmechanism. Inasmuch as this operation is well understood and constitutesno particular part of the present invention, no detailed reference willbe made thereto.

Frictionally mounted upon the shaft 23 of the electric differential ordifferential relay, is a double-acting lever 33, carrying contact arms34 and 35. Mounted upon the contact arms 34 are discs or contactors 36and 37, res ectively adapted to bridge terminals 38 ant 39. Arm 35carries contactors 4l and 42, respectively adapted to engage terminals'43 and 44.

Should the roll 11 suddenly speed up to drive the frequency changer 17at an increased speed, an increased frequency will be applied to thesecondary winding 18 of the electric differential to cause it to rotatein a counter-clockwise direction. Hence, discs 36 and 37 will bridge theterminals 38 and 39 to energize field-magnet winding 28 to rotate motor26 in a counter-clockwise direction, thus operating, the rheostat arm 25to decrease the field strength of the field-magnet winding 13.

At the same time, electromagnet coils 31 and 32 will be energized torestore arm 33 to its normal position to move the rheostat arm 25 asingle step. If, however, the speed of the roll 11 has not yet beenrectified, the electric differential will again operate in the samemanner to move the rheostat arm another step. This operation willcontinue until the speed of the roll 11 has been mit the continuousrotation of the motor 26 and the associated rheostat arm 25.

This accelerating mechanism is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1 asthe arm 45 which projects between two sets of terminals 46 and 47. Inthe event that shaft 23 moves suddenly, arm 45 will close terminals 46,thereby energizing the coil of the electromagnetic switch 48 to open thecircuit to the electromagnetic coils 31 and 32.

It will be understood that, should the speed of the roll 11 be suddenlydecreased, applying a decreased frequency to the secondary winding 18 ofthe electric differential, it would operate the lever 33 to complete thecircuit through terminals 43 and 44 to energize field-magnet winding 29,thus operating rheostat motor 26in a clockwise direction to increase thestrength of the field winding 13 of the propelling motor. Likewise, ifthis change in speed should be sudden and large, the arm 45 would engageterminals 47 to de-energize the coil of electromagnetic switch 48,thereby rendering ineffective electromagnetic coils 31 and 32, as abovedescribed. The anti-hunting feature of this mechanism will be set forthin the detailed reference to Figs. 2 and 3, about to be made.

The actual construction of the corrective apparatus that isdiagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1 may be ascertained by referenceto Figs. 2 and 3, wherein like parts are designated by like referencenumerals. The frictional mounting of the lever 33 upon the shaft 23 isshown as accomplished by a coiled spring 49, which bears at one endagainst a collar 51, which is located beside the lever 33, and whichbears, at its opposite end, against a nut 52 that is adapted to engagewith the screw-threads 53 on the outer end of the shaft 23. It will beapparent that this nut may be adjusted to secure different degrees oftension upon the lever 33. A lock nut 54 is provided for holding the nut52 in the adjusted position.

The accelerating and anti-hunting apparatus comprises a casing 55 havinga hub 56, which screws upon the end of the screwthreaded portion 53 ofthe shaft 23. The casing has, on the rear face thereof, three collectorrings 57, separated from the casing 55 by insulating material 58. Therings 57 are secured to the casing by any suitable means, such as theillustrated screws 59.- (Jo-operating with the collector rmgs 57 areappropriate ball-bearing mountings 64 and 65. Mounting 64 is located inthe rear wall of the housing 55, while mounting 65 is carriedby a plate66, which is secured at the front of the casing 55, as by means of thescrews 67. Between the fly-wheel 63 and the mounting 64 is a spacingwasher 68.

Alsomounted upon the shaft 62 is a block of insulating material. 69, toone side of which is secured the contact arm 45, diagrammatically shownin Fig. 1, and to the opposite side of which is secured a centering orholding arm 71. The arms and 71 are illustrated as secured to the block69 by means of the screws 72, although it will be apparent that anyother suitable connection thereto. may be made. Separating the block 69from the fly-wheel 63 is a suitable washer 73.

Frictional engagement of the fly-wheel with the casing 55 is obtained bymeans of a spring 74, which bears against the block 69, and againstwhich a washer 75 is held by means of a nut 76. The nut 76 is adapted tobe adjusted upon the shaft 62 to thereby regulate the tension betweenthe fly-wheel and the housing.

diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1, arm 45 normally extends between thetwo sets of contact members 46 and 47, respectively. As best shown inFigs. 3 and 4, these contact .members are mounted upon resilient arms77, which are secured tobrackets 78 in any suitable manner. The arms 77are spaced from each other and from the brackets by suitable insulatingmaterial, as indicated, for example, at "79. Thebrackets 78 are fastenedto the rear wall of the casing 55 to permit the contacts to extendforwardly therefrom. Leads are taken from the contact members 46 and 47,through the resilient arms 77, to one set of the.screws 59, in anywell-known manner, the two inner contact members 46 and 47 beingconnected to the middle screw 59, and each of the outside contactmembers 46 and 47 being respectively connected to the outer screws 59.The. circuit will then extend through collector rings 57 and brushes tobindingposts 60, whence the leads 81 and 82 will be taken to the properpoints, in accordance with the circuits illustrated in Fig.1, to connectcontact members 46 and 47 to the electromagnetic coils 31 and 32..

sition between contact The centering arm 71, which is located directlyopposite the arm 45, is adapted to have secured, on opposite sidesthereof, coil springs 83, which, in turn, are secured, at their freeends, to the adjusting screws 84, working in brackets 85-which arefastened to the rear wall of casing in a manner similar to thatdescribed for the brackets 78. The adjusting screws 84 have locking nuts86 co-operating therewith for retaining the springs at the adjustedtension. It will be apparent that this tension may be so adjusted thatthe arm 45 will be maintained out of engagement with either of the arms77 under; varying degrees of movement of the shaft 23.

The casing 55 is rendered dust-proof by placing a cap 87 on the facethereof and securing it to the casing by means of the screws 88.

It will be apparent, from the foregoing description, that the movementsof the shaft 23, which are varied in accordance with changes infrequencies between the motor being controlled and the common frequencysource, will be transmitted to the fly-wheel 63 which is in frictionalengagement with the casing 55. However, if the shaft 23 is given asudden and large turning movement in either direction, the inertia ofthe fly- -wheel 63 will prevent it from immediately acquiring the samerotational speed as shaft 23 and casing 55. Hence, the arm 45, which is.in frictional engagement with the flywheel 63, will close either thecontact mem bers 46 or the members 47, depending upon the direction ofrotation of the shaft This action will complete the circuit to the coilof switch 48, thus interrupting the circuit to. electromagnetic coils 31and 32 at this point, thereby rendering the rheostat motor 26 free tomove the rheostat arm 25 uninterruptedly to effect a quicker correctionof thestrength of field-magnet winding 13 than would be accomplished bythe normal step-by-step movement of said rheostat arm. j

It will likewise'be apparent that, as the shaft 23, carrying casing 55,continues to rotate, the fly-wheel 63 will soon acquire the same speedas the casing 55, with the result that arm 45 will again occupy aneutral pomembers 46 and 47, thereby disengaging the previously engagedsets of contact members. This action will occur just previous to thetime when the controlled motor acquires abnormal-load conditions, butthe momentum of the moving parts will be sufficient to carry the motormto the normal-load condition without any overtravel, thereby avoidinghunting action by the motor or its regulator.

The return of the arm 45 to a neutral position is assisted by the actionof springs 83. The strength of these springs may be so adjusted as tohold the arm 45 in the neutral position after the arm has been returnedthereto, unless some condition arises whereby it may be desirable tocomplete the circuit through the opposite set of contact members toeffect a prompt adj ustmcnt of the correction previously accomplished.

However, under normal conditions, when the arm 45 has operated and hasbeen returned to a neutral position, the opposite set of contact memberswill not be closed by any acquired momentum of the fly-wheel 63. Hence,the frictional engagement of the fly-wheel with the casing 55 will beSllfilcient to cause it to stop with the casing which, in turn, stopswith the rotation of the shaft 28.

Modifications in the system and in. the arrangement and location ofparts may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention, and suchmodifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a regulator system, the combination with aplurality of rotatable members, a plurality of dynamo-electric machinescooperating therewith, and a dynamo-electric machine common to allrotatable members, of means jointly controlled by said dynam0- electricmachines for governing the speed of each rotatable member, andinertia-responsive means associated therewith for preventing huntingaction of said machines.

v2. In a regulator system, the combination with a. plurality ofrotatable members, a propelling motor for each of said rotatable membersand means comprising a plurality of dynamo-electric machines cooperatingtherewith and means comprising a common dynamo-electric machine forcontrolling the propelling motors to operate the rotatable members at aconstant-speed ratio, of inertia-responsive means for preventingovertravel of said machines.

3. In a speed-regulator system, the combination with a plurality ofrolls, a propelling motor for each of said rolls, and an electricdifferential associated therewith, of means co-operating with saidfrequency changer comprising a contact-carrying device, a fly-wheelresponsive to the movements of said frequency changer, and an armfrictionally carried by said fly-wheel and adapted to engage saidcontact device in a manner to regulate the operation of said motor.

4. In a regulator system, the combination with a plurality ofdynamo-electric machines, and a constant-power machine, of a pluralityof control means jointly governed by said machines, andinertia-responsive anti-hunting devices therefor.

5. In a speed-regulator 'system,-the combination with a plurality ofrotatable members, a propelling motor for each of said members, aplurality of associated frequency changers, a frequency changer commonto all of said rotatable members, and a motor-operated rheostatassociated with each of said propelling motors and jointly controlled bythe common frequency changer and the associated frequency changer, saidrheostat normally having a step-bystep operation to govern theexcitation of the associated propelling motor, of inertia-responsivemeans adapted to. render ineffective said step-by-step operation.

6. In a speed-regulator system, the combination with a plurality ofrotatable members, a plurality of motors for rotating said members, anda frequency changer common to all rotatable members, of an electricdifferential associated with each rotatable member, means controlled bysaid electric differential for governing the speed of the propellingmotor of the associated rotatable. member, and inertia-responsive means00- operating therewith for preventing hunting action of said motors. f

7. In a speed-regulator system, the combination with a motor, a contactarm connected to the rotor of said motor and carrying contact membersoperated in accordance with the forward or the reverse movement of saidrotor, a rheostat motor having differentially-related field-magnetwindings respectively controlled by said contact members, andelectromagnets connected in parallel-circuit relation to saidfield-magnet windings and adapted to return said contact arm to normalposition, of means responsive to inertia action for rendering saidelectromagnets ineffective under predetermined conditions.

8. In a control system, the combination comprising a dynamo-electricmachine adapted for forward and reverse operation, contact meanscontrolled by said motor, electromagnets for returning the contactmeansto a neutral position a predetermined time after operation of the motor,and inertia-responsive means adapted to render said electromagnetsinefi'iective under predetermined conditions.

9. In a control system, the combination with a control motor, of anauxiliary motor having diiferentially-related field-magnet windingsenergized in accordance with the operation of said control motor,electroresponsive means adapted to periodically de-energize saidauxiliary motor, and inertia-responsive means operated by said controlmotor for rendering said electroresponsive means ineffective above apredetermined speed of said control motor.

10. In a regulator system, the combination with a plurality'of rotatablemembers and a propelling motor for each of said members, of meanscomprising a plurality of auxiliary members adapted to control theoperation of said propelling motors to maintain a constant-speed ratiobetween said rtatable members, and an inertia-responsive anti-huntingdevice therefor.

11. In a speed-regulating system, the

combination with a plurality of rotatablemembers, means comprising amotor for propelling each of said members and dynamo-electricmachlnesoperated in accord-- ance with the operation of said rotatablemembers, of meanscontrolled thereby comprising motor-operated rheostatsadapted for normal step-by-step operation for varying the excitation ofsaid motors to maintain a 'constantspeed ratio therebetween, and meansfor rendering ineffective said step-'by-ste'p operation,- including afiywheel for preventing hunting action of said members.

'rheostat ineffective under 12. In a speed-regulating system, thecombination with a rotatable member, a motor for propelling said member,and

-means' including a motor-operated rheostat for varying the excitationof said motor to maintain av substantially constant speed thereof, ofregulating means for normally rotatablemembers, of mechanism for saidcontrol means comprising a contact device, a fly-wheel responsive to themovements of said control means, and an arm frictionally carried by saidfly-wheel 'and adapted to engage said contact device.

14. In a regulator system, an electric differential and regulating meanscontrolled in accordance with the operation ofsaid differential andincluding a fly-wheel adapted to accelerate the action of saidregulating means under predetermined conditions.

'15. In a regulator system, an electric differential and regulatingn'ieans controlled in accordance; with the operation of saiddifferential and including a fly-wheel adapted to accelerate the actionof said control means under predetermined conditions and to render saidregulating means ineffective just prior to the obtaining of normalconditions.

16. In a regulator system, an electric differential and regulating meanscontrolled in accordance with thcperation of said differential,including at casing connected to said differential, switchterminalscarried by said casing, a fly-wheel loosely mounted in saidcasing, a contact arm. engagedby said fly-wheel, said arm engagingdifferent terminals under predetermined conditions,

and means for normally maintaining said contact arm out of engagementwith said terminals. v

17. In regulator system, regulating means comprising a casing, switchterminals carried thereby, a fly-wheel loosely mounted therein, acontact arm frictionally engaged by said fly-wheel, said arm engagingdifferent terminals under predetermined conditions, and means fornormally maintaining said contact arm out of engagement with saidterminals.

18. In a regulator, system, the combination with a plurality ofrotatable members and a propelling motor for each of said members, ofmeans for controlling said propelling motors to maintain a constantspeedratio between said rotating members and-comprising a plurality ofauxiliary members and an inertia-responsive device for accelerating theaction of said means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day ofFebruary, 1921.

STEPHEN STAEGE.

